Housing Navigation & Portfolio Manager at 3rd Street Youth Center & Clinic in San Francisco, CA

Job description

• Program info: The Housing Navigation & Portfolio Manager is a senior-level housing specialist responsible for expanding and strengthening 3rd Street’s scattered-site housing portfolio across programs, including Youth Access Point, RRH, EHV, and other housing initiatives.
• Position summary: This role focuses on landlord engagement, housing search strategy, unit acquisition, cross-program navigation support, systems coordination, and data tracking to improve program performance and housing outcomes. The Housing Navigator works closely with Housing Program Managers and Case Managers to support successful lease-ups, housing retention, and portfolio growth.
• The Housing Navigation & Portfolio Manager is a subject-matter expert and internal resource to staff. At this time, this position does not have direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Duties & Responsibilities: (list all): The following is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the Housing Navigation & Portfolio Manager. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed.
• Housing Navigation & Portfolio Development
• Develop and implement best practices for housing search and landlord engagement.
• Build, maintain, and expand a landlord/property management database.
• Cultivate relationships with landlords, developers, and property management companies.
• Negotiate lease terms and advocate for youth with rental barriers (credit, criminal history, references, etc.).
• Identify new housing opportunities and alternative housing models.
• Support complex placements and high-barrier cases across programs.
• Conduct housing stability check-ins and support retention strategies.
• Assist with relocation planning and mediation when needed.
• Cross-Program Strategy & Support
• Provide consultation and coaching to case managers on housing search strategies.
• Design and deliver internal trainings on housing search strategy, landlord engagement, Fair Housing compliance, lease negotiation, and housing retention best practices.
• Develop toolkits, templates, and standardized workflows to strengthen housing navigation across programs.
• Identify system gaps and propose solutions to improve lease-up timelines.
• Support program transitions (e.g., EHV transfers, subsidy changes, scattered-site compliance).
• Coordinate with CalAIM, HUD, HSH, and SFHA requirements as relevant to housing navigation.
• Serve as the internal subject-matter expert on housing market trends, rental pricing, and landlord engagement strategy.
• Data & Compliance
• Ensure housing navigation practices align with HUD, Fair Housing, and funder requirements.
• Maintain accurate records in HMIS/Clarity and other required data systems.
• Track housing search outcomes, lease-up timelines, and landlord engagement metrics.
• Prepare housing-related reports as requested by leadership.
• Direct Client Services
• Provide direct housing navigation services to TAY youth as needed.
• Support housing applications, documentation gathering, and move-in logistics.
• Conduct unit viewings and accompany participants when appropriate.
• Deliver services using trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches.
• Utilize de-escalation and mediation strategies when conflicts arise.
• Community & External Relations
• Represent 3rd Street in landlord meetings and housing provider convenings.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with housing partners and community providers.
• Serve as a liaison between landlords and internal program teams.
• Behaving Professionally and Ethically
• Maintains excellent and healthy interpersonal boundaries and adheres to all agency and industry ethical and practice standards including abuse reporting and maintenance of participant confidentiality.
• Adheres to all agency and program policies including Boundary Code of Ethics, Core Competencies, Code of Conduct, False Claims, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), HUD, Fair Housing, Employee Handbook and county, state and federal regulations. ‘

Requirements

• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills with landlords, developers, and property managers.
• Ability to analyze rental market data and identify emerging housing opportunities.
• Knowledge of tenant-landlord law, Fair Housing regulations, and rental market trends.
• Comfort negotiating rental rates, deposits, risk mitigation agreements, and vacancy strategies.
• Ability to balance compliance requirements with relationship-based landlord engagement.
• Strong operational and systems-thinking mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong documentation and data tracking skills.
• Crisis de-escalation and mediation skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in real estate, urban planning, business, public administration, human services, social services or related field preferred; equivalent professional experience considered.
• 3–5 years of experience in housing navigation, Rapid Rehousing, subsidy programs, property management, real estate, leasing, housing development, or housing portfolio management.
• Experience working within or alongside the real estate industry, property management companies, leasing offices, or housing development entities strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in landlord recruitment, lease negotiations, and housing portfolio expansion.
• Strong understanding of local rental markets and regulatory frameworks.
• Knowledge of HUD, Fair Housing, HSH, SFHA, and subsidy program requirements preferred.
• Experience with HMIS/Clarity or other housing data systems preferred.
• Bilingual Spanish preferred.
• Must have access to dependable transportation available and personal car insurance, unless using an agency vehicle.
• Clean driving record, current CA Driver's License or ability to obtain within 10 days after hire and access to a vehicle.
• Basic computer and keyboarding competence with the ability to use Google and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Must be able to occasionally travel for trainings, meetings, etc, if required.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Skills

Preferred

• Bilingual Spanish preferred.

Benefits

• The full salary range for this position is $80,000 – $110,000. We anticipate hiring within a range of $90,000 – $100,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal equity. The upper end of the range reflects growth potential over time in the role.
• We offer comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, 403b, generous time off (vacation, sick, and holidays), and more!